Dolce & Gabbana Vintage

Italia is Love

Identity

It's not easy to circumscribe the Dolce & Gabbana universe within a definition. A world made up of sensations, traditions, culture and a Mediterranean nature.

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have made a trademark of their surnames which is known throughout the world, easily recognizable thanks to its glamour and great versatility.

History

Duo Dolce & Gabbana is the result of the creative union of two stylistic talents. Domenico Dolce, born in Polizzi Generosa, Palermo, in 1958, worked with his father in the family-run fashion company and studied fashion design.

Stefano Gabbana, Milanese, born in 1962, started to work in some fashion houses, despite having a graphics background. Two different paths, a common vision of fashion, the same idea of “woman”. They made their debut during October 1985, amongst the young designers invited at Milano Collezioni by Beppe Modenese, in the New Talents group.

Amongst the three emerging creative duos, Domenico and Stefano were of great interest thanks to their garments, produced in Sicilian handicraft shops. Then in 1986, their first self-produced Autumn-Winter womenswear collection.

In the careerist hedonism ‘80s, Dolce & Gabbana were offbeat: their "real woman", title of their collection, was mysterious and seductive. Dressing gowns, corsets, lace and petticoats, lingerie in full view. A Mediterranean explosive femininity, reminding of Sofia Loren in Yesterday, today and tomorrow in 1963.

Their success was guaranteed because they were different from the fashionable style of that time. In the second half of the Eighties, their bustier had a ringside seat, amongst black lace, satin and chiffon. This way, Ferdinando Scianna’s shots with Marpessa Hennink in 1987 represent the most intimate soul of Dolce and Gabbana style concept: the top model, wearing pure blouses or long total black skirts, let a Sicilian street urchin take pictures of her in the sunny island streets.

Major Italian Neorealism protagonists as Anna Magnani and Silvia Mangano were an inspiration. During March, same year, they produce their first knitting collection. The year after, Domenico and Stefano signed an agreement with Saverio Dolce, to arrange the prêt-à-porter production in his company in Legnano.

A rising career: the womenswear show in Tokyo in 1989, the first lingerie and beachwear collection. Then, in 1990, menswear and womenswear were together in their show in New York. Between the end of the ‘80s and the early ‘90s, the duo worked at another must-have: the suit, revised, became a relevant seduction element.

• Isabella Rossellini would wear a Dolce&Gabbana pinstripe suit, white blouse and tie. Distinguishing element: double-breasted jacket. Domenico Dolce’s and Stefano Gabbana’s woman is a universe of emotions. We can see a thousand aspects in her, suspended between modernity and tradition, combining feminine sensuality through a marked contrast game of masculine garments. White and black together, eros and crucifix, rosary beads as accessories.

Pinstripe dresses remind of the 30’s gangster-movies. During this period, the key elements of the style became stronger, as leopardskin - at first on linings and brand signature since ’94- and lingerie. In a few years their international fame grew, until they became the most cutting-egde creative duo on the Milanese runways.

Their garments were immortalized by Helmut Newton’s, Steven Meisel’s and Peter Lindbergh’s photographs. A very special meeting for Dolce&Gabbana was the one with Madonna. In 1992 the singer was at their hippie-chic themed show/event. No surprise when she asked them to design her costumes for her "Girlie Show" tour in 1993. Amongst all occasions, they would dress Madonna even for the film "Evita Peron", creating the famous tuxedo tracksuit for her.

Meanwhile, in 1992, came the first bridal collection and a fragrance for women. • A little later, one of their fragrances for men would be the very first Italian one to win the Oscar Des Parfums award. One year later, the important launch of the D&G young collection (whose last separate show took place in September 2011) and in 1995 the launch of the sunglasses and eyeglasses ones. In the meantime, denim made his own debut: the brand’s torn worn-like jeans became an icon.

Their 10th anniversary would come soon, and would be celebrated with a photographic volume. Monica Bellucci on the cover – already protagonist of their adv directed by Giuseppe Tornatore – pictured in a remake of the striptease of La Dolce Vita by Fellini. White laces and virginal pureness for 96/97 AW collection. For Summer ’99, on the contrary, they presented a tribute to the English myth: Stella Tennant was wearing a micro sheath dress featuring the Union Jack.

The brand is a proper cult amongst Hollywood celebrities and rockstars. Just to mention some, Demi Moore, Angelina Jolie, Annie Lennox, Jennifer Lopez and Kylie Minogue, dressed by the two designers for her European tour. During September 2002 they had special care for historical garments: corsets over white blouses with laces and hooks in full view, masculine pinstripe suits and black bustier dresses featuring laces on both sides on the runway, followed by futuristic transparent pvc trench coats, tight silver sheath dresses, revised tuxedos.

Their 2002-03 FW collection features fringes, caps and waistcoats, leather patchwork sheath dresses, reptile boots, longuette skirts and furs with spotted inner part. Even if combined in a winter collection, the idea of the lingerie in full view was once again suggested, on top models as Naomi or Gisele. In 2004-05 FW collection, the key themes were revised: traditional black tight sheath dresses were combined with oversize nylon parkas.

The feline theme was graphically printed on dresses, also featuring floral, optical or total gold prints. In time, their collections have been featuring many more details, materials, and precious embellishments. It looked like Dolce & Gabbana’s women in 2011 SS collection just came out of Luchino Visconti’s La terra trema or Zeffirelli’s Sparrow.

It even looked like the white lace came from a trunk box, suggested in broderie anglaise, valenciennes or crochet. The feminine-masculine dualism was strongly back in the 2011-12 AW collection, for an easy allured wardrobe.

An Italian ironic feminine mambo is protagonist of the 2012 SS collection: vegetable patterns, crochet embellishments on suits, sheath dresses, voluminous or straight skirts. For an easy allured wardrobe. An Italian ironic feminine mambo is protagonist of the 2012 SS collection: vegetable patterns, crochet embellishments on suits, sheath dresses, voluminous or straight skirts. Dolce & Gabbana’s world includes clothing and accessories, restaurants and cosmetics – in 2009 Scarlett Johansson was the face for the first make-up collection- and even automotive design and music production.

And again, sport, with A.C. Milan and Italy national football team uniforms, as well as the pink jersey on the occasion of Giro d’Italia centenary. Their must-have accessories are Jeri or Miss Sicily bags. Their brand is one of the most famous for reaching new digital communication frontiers, performing their first live streaming show in 2005, and developing e-commerce through a virtual boutique in partnership with Yoox. They are also pioneers of the supportive activities for young fashion talents with the Spiga 2 project.

Two Designers who have known how to make a flag out of their Italian character. Two Designers who have known how to interpret and impose their sensual and unique style on a world-wide basis.

Two young Designers who address themselves to young people and who draw inspiration from them. Two Designers adored by the Hollywood stars who have made the duo their favorites: two Designers who dress all of the rock stars of the moment and who have elected them as their unquestionable leaders.

The Designers of Madonna, Monica Bellucci, Isabella Rossellini, Kylie Minogue and Angelina Jolie, amongst others.

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